Latest Area News Headlines

LAKEFIELD – Two elderly Chandler residents received non-life threatening injuries Sunday afternoon when their vehicle was struck be a semi truck near Lakefield.

According to a report from the Minnesota State Patrol, 81-year-old Franklin Post of Chandler had exited I-90 on the eastbound ramp and was attempting to turn north onto Highway 86 when he pulled into the path of a Kensworth semi, driven by Mitchell Ferguson, 26, of Heron Lake. The semi struck the Dodge Dakota on the driver’s side. Franklin and his 80-year-old passenger, Arlene Post, were taken to Sanford Worthington...

WORTHINGTON – We may be experiencing beautiful weather, but fall is seriously upon us. One strong sign is the last construction updates of the season from the City of Worthington Engineering Department, which states dormant turf restoration remains at various project locations throughout the city. Dormant seeding is temperature dependent and will take place later this fall.

WORTHINGTON – The Worthington City Council met in emergency session Thursday to discuss whether to hire a firm to assist in the search for a new administrator or to look on their own. Council member Diane Graber...

WORTHINGTON - A 27-year-old Worthington man is accused of sexual contact with a minor. Jaime Ernesto Hernandez Bautista is charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct after he was allegedly caught kissing a young girl in her genital area on Sunday.

A witness took the girl from the home and called authorities. Hernandez-Bautista initially denied the accusation under question, but then admitted he had kissed the victim on her body to show affection. He also allegedly admitted that he had kissed her private area, and that it had happened on three occasions.

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized Steve Johnson of Vetter Johnson Architects to move forward with the redesign for the stairs at the Nobles County Government Center before sending the project out to bid.

The process will involve adding plexiglass to the inner stairwells, covering the stair treads, peeling up some tiles in the lobby, adding a moisture barrier or insulation in some areas and shirring in others. While Johnson had no inkling of an estimate on the job, according to board chair Marv Zylstra, “it looks spendy.”

WORTHINGTON – A mobile home at the Sungold Heights Trailer Park was completely destroyed by fire Tuesday morning, killing a family’s pet dog.

The Worthington Fire Department was paged at approximately 8:20 a.m. to the mobile home park at 1328 Spring Avenue, trailer 49. According to Worthington Fire Chief Rick Von Holdt, orange fire was rolling out a bedroom window when he arrived at the scene. He tried to open a door, but quickly closed it to keep the fire contained to one end. The blaze quickly engulfed the back half of the trailer.

UPDATE: AUSTIN – The City of Austin voted 4-3 Monday night to accept a contract agreement with Worthington City Administrator Craig Clark to hire him as the new Austin City Administrator, starting Dec. 8.

Clark will be paid a starting salary of $124,000. After six months, the city will review Clark’s job performance, and a good review would increase his annual salary to $128,000.

The contract calls for Clark to get 20 days of vacation each year and up to 40 days of sick time. It also includes a $400 a month car allowance, and up to $3,500 for temporary housing.

WORTHINGTON - Minnesota West Community & Technical College will be hosting an Artist Reception for Annie O’Fallon from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, October 24th in the lobby of the Center for Performing and Fine Arts. Refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Leah Gossom by email at leah.gossom@mnwest.edu or by phone at 507-372-3492.

WORTHINGTON - Minnesota West Community & Technical College Department of Theater presents Dracula October 31st at 7:30 p.m., November 1st at 7:30 p.m., and November 2nd at 2 p.m. This...

WORTHINGTON – First District DFL Rep. Tim Walz was in Worthington Friday morning for the dedication of a flag that once flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and is now snapping in the breeze at Freedom Veterans Memorial Park.

Walz, who rose to the rank of command sergeant major during his 24-year career with the Army National Guard, is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in the U.S. Congress.

With his daughter Hope standing nearby, he lauded the efforts of those who worked to build the memorial park and those present who had braved the cold winds to...

MOUNTAIN LAKE – The Minnesota State Patrol reports a one-vehicle rollover on Highway 30 in Cottonwood County near mile marker 76 at 11 p.m. Thursday. A 17-year-old female lost control of a 2005 Chevy Classic traveling westbound and rolled. She suffered non-life threatening injuries and the vehicle was totaled. Mountain Lake Ambulance assisted at the scene.

BREWSTER – Three vehicles collided at the intersection of Minnesota 60 and Nobles County 1 in Brewster at 11:52 a.m. on Thursday, causing four people to suffer non-life threatening injuries. According to the Minnesota State Patrol...